All Mushrooms Are Fungi, But Not All Fungi Are Mushrooms
What is a mushroom?
A mushroom is a visible, spore-producing reproductive structure (fruiting body) of a much larger living organism called a fungus, most of which lives underground or within its substrate (soil, wood, or leaf litter), as a network of web-like, microscopic threads called mycelium.
Fungi that form mushrooms are only a subset of the fungal kingdom.
A fungus is not a plant that uses sunlight to make its food. Instead, it obtains nutrients by releasing enzymes that break down organic matter, such as dead leaves, wood, and other plant material, and then absorbing the nutrients.
In an ecosystem, fungi can play different roles:
- Parasitic: Some fungi harm plants and other organisms
- Mutualistic: Some are supportive and form mycorrhizal networks underground that connect with the roots of young saplings and mature trees, helping plants access nutrients and, in some cases, water while receiving sugars from the plants in return
- Saprotrophic: Others break down dead plant material and recycle nutrients back into the ecosystem
What animals eat mushrooms?
Mushrooms are an important food source for many animals! Although they are over 70% water, mushrooms contain vitamins, minerals, proteins, and amino acids. Animals that like to snack on mushrooms include rodents, deer, turtles, slugs, snails, insects, and even grizzly bears!
When is the best time to go on a mushroom walk?
Hoping to discover mushrooms this fall? The best time to spot them is 2-3 days after a heavy rainfall, this is because it takes a few days for the underground network of mycelium to push the fruiting bodies above ground. Early mornings are also a great time because it is before the heat of the day takes the moisture out of the mushrooms and before insects have found them!
Want to learn more about mushrooms, the different kinds, and how to identify them? Check out
Mushrooms of Toronto: A Guide to Their Remarkable World, published by the City of Toronto (2015).
Sources:
City of Toronto. (2015). Mushrooms of Toronto: A guide to their remarkable world.
https://www.toronto.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/8ef1-City-Planning-Mushrooms-of-Toronto-Biodiversity-Series.pdf